Europe|Putin Says Proof of Chemical Arms Attack Is Not Enough to Justify U.S. Action

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Putin Says Proof of Chemical Arms Attack Is Not Enough to Justify U.S. Action

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President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has asserted himself as a major opponent of military action in Syria. It’s just the latest development in a fraught relationship with the United States.CreditCreditMikhail Klimentyev/Agence France-Presse

MOSCOW — In an interview published on Wednesday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said that it seemed “completely ridiculous” for the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to have used chemical weapons and that there was still not sufficient proof to justify the military strike that President Obama has asked Congress to authorize.

Mr. Putin, speaking to The Associated Press and Russia’s government-controlled Channel 1 television network ahead of the Group of 20 summit meeting to be held this week in St. Petersburg, pointedly warned that an attack without authorization of the United Nations Security Council would be a violation of international law. The government released a transcript of the interview.

Mr. Putin expressed doubt about the evidence presented so far by Secretary of State John Kerry and said that more “convincing” results from United Nations inspectors were needed before considering the use of force. “We do not have exact details of what happened,” he said of the situation in Syria. “Is it a chemical weapon or just some chemical pollutants?”

He insisted, however, that it made no sense for Mr. Assad’s government to use chemical weapons given the likelihood it would provoke an international response.

“In our view, it seems completely ridiculous that the regular armed forces, who are actually on the attack and in some places have the so-called rebels surrounded and are finishing them off, that in these conditions” would use prohibited chemical weapons, Mr. Putin said, “understanding quite well that this could be a reason for sanctions on them, including the use of force. It’s just ridiculous. It does not fit into any logic.”

Asked if Russia might support a military strike, Mr. Putin replied, “I do not exclude it.” But he quickly warned against any action without United Nations Security Council authorization.

“I want to draw your attention to one absolutely fundamental fact,” he said. “In accordance with applicable international law, the authorization of the use of force against a sovereign state can only be given by the Security Council of the United Nations. Any other reasons, or methods, to justify the use of force against an independent and sovereign state are unacceptable and cannot be qualified as anything other than aggression.”

Mr. Putin said that if there is objective, conclusive proof of the use of chemical weapons, “then, there will be a reaction.” But he pointedly demanded to know what the United States would do if it turned out that the opposition rather than the Syrian government was to blame.

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President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, second from right, warned that an attack on Syria without authorization from the United Nations Security Council would violate international law.CreditPool photo by Maxim Shipenkov

“If it is determined that these rebels used weapons of mass destruction, what will the United States do with the rebels?” Mr. Putin asked. “What will the sponsors of the rebels do? Stop the supply of arms? Will they start fighting against the rebels?”

Mr. Putin and Russia have been looking forward to holding the G-20 conference in St. Petersburg, the president’s hometown, but the summit, which had been expected to focus on economic issues, is now certain to be overshadowed by discussion of the conflict in Syria.

In the interview, Mr. Putin also addressed a number of simmering issues, including Russia’s sharply deteriorated relations with the United States and Mr. Obama’s decision to cancel a separate meeting with Mr. Putin that had been scheduled to take place in Moscow this week before the G-20.

The White House cited a raft of disagreements with Russia as reasons for calling off the meeting, but the final straw was the decision by Russia to grant temporary asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the national security contractor who disclosed surveillance programs.

In the interview, Mr. Putin mostly struck a conciliatory tone, saying he did not view the cancellation of the meeting with Mr. Obama as a “catastrophe” and that contacts between the two countries continue.

“We understand that in connection with policies of Russia on some issues there is annoyance within the American administration,” Mr. Putin said. “But there is nothing we can do about that. I think, actually, that is it is good not to be annoyed and instead have patience and work to find solutions.”

Mr. Putin said the relationship was necessarily difficult at times. “President Obama was not elected by the American people in order to be pleasant to Russia nor was your humble servant elected by the Russian people to be pleasant to anyone,” he said. “We work, we argue on some things, we’re people. Sometimes someone gets annoyed. But we try again. Mutual global interests, it seems to me, are still a good foundation for finding collaborative solutions.”

Mr. Putin, in the interview, which took place Tuesday night at his country house outside of Moscow, also said that Russia does not have policies that discriminate against gays — answering criticism over new legislation barring “propaganda” on nontraditional sexual relationships. The legislation, widely viewed as an effort to suppress homosexuality, has led to international criticism and even some calls for a boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The Syria issue, however, dominated the interview. Mr. Putin said Russia would continue selling weapons to the Assad government, but he also insisted that Russia’s position was not to defend the regime but rather larger principles.

“We do not defend this government,” he said. “We are defending very different things. We protect the norms and principles of international law. We protect the modern world order.”